Mitchell and Webb Are Not Helping

David Mitchell (Performer)

Born: July 14, 1974 in Salisbury

Best Known For: Being one half of hysterical duo Mitchell and Webb.

Early-life: Born David James Stuart Mitchell in Salisbury on July 14, 1974. He has a younger brother called Daniel. His parents were hotel managers who later moved to Oxford, where they became lecturers in hotel management. He claims he always wanted to be an actor or comedian, but told people he planned to become a barrister to please his parents. In 1993 David went to Peterhouse College, Cambridge, to study history. He performed with the famous Cambridge Footlights, eventually becoming the society president. It was in his first year at university that he met Robert Webb at an audition for a student pantomime production of Cinderella.

Career: After graduating, Mitchell worked an usher at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith. He and Webb took a number of shows to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival before being asked to write for Alexander Armstrong and Ben Miller and for surreal comedy series Big Train. In 2001, they made their first sketch show, The Mitchell and Webb Situation, which ran for six episodes on the now-defunct cable channel Play UK. Their next project came in 2003, with the award-winning Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show. They've also worked together on That Mitchell and Webb Sound, That Mitchell and Webb Look and the film Magicians. Solo, Mitchell has appeared on 10 O'Clock Live and numerous panel shows, including Would I Lie to You?, where he's a regular team captain. His autobiography, Back Story: A Memoir, was published in 2012.

Quote: "I think, fundamentally, the people I want to make laugh are British. I can't ever imagine living abroad."

Trivia: He writes columns for The Observer and The Guardian.

Robert Webb (Performer)

Born: September 29, 1972 in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire

Best Known For: His partnership with David Mitchell.

Early-life: Robert Patrick Webb was born on September 29, 1972, in Boston, Lincolnshire. He was educated at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Horncastle. While Webb was in the lower sixth form preparing for his A-levels, his mother died of breast cancer. Aged 20, he went to Robinson College, Cambridge, where he studied English and was a member of the Footlights. He met David Mitchell during an audition for a Footlights production of Cinderella in 1993.

Career: Mitchell and Webb put together their first project in January 1995, a show about the First World War. From this, the duo were given the chance to write for Alexander Armstrong and Ben Miller and for series two of sketch show Big Train. In 2001, they were commissioned to write a sketch show of their own, entitled The Mitchell and Webb Situation, which ran for six episodes on the now defunct cable channel Play UK. The pair's big break came in 2003, with starring roles in the Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show, which led to movie projects. In solo work, Webb has appeared in offbeat sitcom The Smoking Room, and the film Confetti. Other projects include Fresh Meat, Our Men, Ambassadors and Marple.

Quote: "When somebody says 'Do you want to do some funny ads for not many days in the year and be paid more than you would be for an entire series of Peep Show?' the answer, obviously, is, 'Yeah, that's fine'".

Trivia: He won the charity event Let's Dance for Comic Relief in 2009.

Krystal Evans (Performer)

Stevie Martin (Performer)

Lara Ricote (Performer)

Kiell Smith-Bynoe (Performer)

Esme Williams (Performer)

Anya-Eniola Williams (Performer)

Ed Jones (Performer)

Abigail Burdess (Writer)

Natasha Hodgson (Writer)

Mollie Goodfellow (Writer)

Tatenda Shamiso (Writer)

Kenton Allen (Executive producer)

Gareth Edwards (Producer)

David Sant (Director)

11:35 pm - 12:10 am, Saturday, January 17 on E4 Extra (31)

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Season 1, Episode 4

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